Parish History Book
ONE FAITH ONE SPIRIT ONE GOOD
A HISTORY OF ST. JOHN CANTIUS PARISH 100 YEARS
Written by Sister Owen Lindblad, O.S.B. The 166 page book with more than 80 pictures and illustrations capture parishioner stories, church boundary shifts, St. Cloud History and even a few anecdotes of a moved cemetery.
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EXERPTS FROM THE BOOK
Taken from Page 3 of our book
On the Northwest fringe of downtown St. Cloud lies this city's oldest original Catholic church. Once known as "the Polish Church," St. John Cantius today embraces not only Polish and German working class people, but a diversity of some 500 who remain committed and active members of this city-parish.
As St. John Cantius Church joyously observes its 100th anniversary, it is fitting to reflect on its small and unpretentious beginnings.
In the 1870s and 1880s when the first Polish-Catholic immigrants stepped from ship to shore in America, their determination to live their faith and culture was admirable. Life had been one of constant struggle for the Polish people most of whom were Roman Catholic. Their homeland had been fought over by its geographic neighbors for centuries. In the late eighteenth century, "partitions" of the land were claimed by Russia into Russian Poland (Eastern Orthodox), by Germany into Prussian Poland (Lutheran), and by Austria into Austrian Poland (Roman Catholic). Resistance by the people to this foreign rule built into anti-Russian and anti-German feelings. When Polish lands were bought up by German peasants and laborers, when towns were given German names, many Poles decided to flee the country to preserve their culture and their Catholicism.
Page 21 - The Arrival of Father Peter Kroll
On August 28, 1917, a new pastor arrived at St. John Cantius. He was Father Peter J. Kroll, a stocky young priest who had served Sacred Heart Church in Flensburg and the missions of Swanville and Moran for three years. His arrival at St. John Cantius marked the beginning of a long and significant history in the life of this parish.
Eager to keep up with improvements but also reduce the parish debt, Father Kroll was in the parish only a few months when he installed storm windows in the church and water works in the rectory. He was grateful for the generosity and harmony shown among parishioners.
Then, suddenly, the United States was at war.
Page 25 (Read about our Coat of Arms)
Pages 30-31 (read about, A Busy Neighborhood, The Depression and Bouja and Bazaars)
Page 46-47 (Assistants and Lay Teachers)
Pages 56-57 (Church Music, The Parish Council, and More Church Changes)
Page 58
As the door of St. John Cantius closed on Monsignor Peter Kroll, it also closed on Father Beniek, who, after a fine farewell party in August, moved on to his new assignment at Sacred Heart Church in Sauk Rapids. St. John Cantius then entered a brand new era- one not experienced in over 50 years: a new pastor!
Page 58
Father Virnig arrived at St. John Cantius on July 17, 1968. He was 60 years old at the time; a quiet, reserved man but sensitive to people's needs and devoted to the Catholic school. His associate for two years was Father Ralph Keller...
Page 70 - Pets
It was known that Monsignor had a pet robin at St. John Cantius. The bird would perch on his hand to be fed. Sometimes Monsignor carried it around to visit the sisters in the backyard. Once, during a funeral, the bird flew in through an open window of the church and hopped up to the front, pew-by-pew, to the casket. Monsignor looked at the undertaker and cautioned, "Don't kill my bird."
Pages 82-83 (The Parish of the 90s and The Pastor from Holland)
Page 87
The Challenge of the Future
In addition to his position as Vicar General of the diocese, Father Enneking "pastors" St. John Cantius Parish. It is a challenge to balance the two ministries but he has discovered that the parish, though small, is filled with hard-working and generous people. There is an openness about them, he says, and an awareness of the broader world's needs; a constant "looking outward" rather than turning in on themselves. This inclusive posture "welcomes a broad spectrum of Catholicism" into its worship while at the same time remaining sensitive to other ways and forms of worship. In addition, he adds, there is the "constant, persistent older pillars...who continue to insure religious practice and faith development in the parish."
Page 88
BLESSINGS
MAY YOUR HEART BE AS PATIENT
AS THE EARTH
YOUR
LOVE AS WARM AS HARVEST GOLD.
MAY YOUR DAYS BE FULL,
AS THE CITY IS FULL
YOUR NIGHTS AS JOYFUL AS DANCERS.
MAY YOUR ARMS BE AS WELCOMING
AS HOME.
MAY YOUR FAITH BE AS ENDURING
AS GOD'S LOVE
YOUR SPIRIT AS VALIANT AS YOUR HERITAGE.
MAY YOUR HAND BE AS SURE AS A FRIEND
YOUR DREAMS AS HOPEFUL AS A CHILD.
MAY YOUR SOUL BE AS BRAVE
AS YOUR PEOPLE
AND MAY YOU BE BLESSED.
"An old Polish Prayer"
To read all of the wonderful stories about St. John Cantius' history click on the link below to order your own copy of this book.
Click here to order the Parish History Book